Valve



Aug'. 17, '1948. H. E. vooRHlEs VALVE Filed Oct. 4, 1945 Patented Aug.`17, 1948- VALVE Harry E. Voorhies,

Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.,

assignor to Eaton Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Application october 4, 194,5, serial No. 620,234 '1 claims. (ci.12s-9o) This invention relates to poppet valves for internal combustionengines and more particularly to means for rotating the valves.

Broadly the invention comprehends a poppet valve for internal combustionengines having means incorporated therein and associ-ated with theengine valve spring providing for positive rotation of the valve duringeach and every valve reciprocatory motion.

Heretofore in the construction of poppet valves wherein rotation isattempted through the`utilization of valve spring twist during thereciproerational reciprocation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a poppet valve forinternal combustion engines having means incorporated therein andassociated with the valve spring effective to rotate the valve throughutilization of a valve spring twist.

A further object of the invention is the provision of poppet valves forengines having brake means incorporated in 'the stem end of the valvefor positively rotating the valve during its reciprocatory motion in theengine.

A yet further object of the invention is the provision of poppet valvesfor internal combustion engines having one-way clutch means associatedwith the valve and valve spring for eiecting positive rotation of thevalve during the operation thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, forming apart of the specification; and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an internalcombustion engine showing a valve gear system reciprocable thereinembodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken along line 2 -2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of the clutch spring shown in Figure 3.

It has become necessary together with the strides made in the bettermentof high compression internal combusti-on engines to provide means forprolonging the life of poppet valves employed by such engines. Becauseof the uneven distribution of carbon deposits, warping, pitt-ing, andunevenness of wear that normally occurs between the valve and itsassociated sea-t member when the valves are subjected to severe heat-andgas corrosive -conditions in the operation of internal combustionengines, an early mal-functioning or leaking of 'the valve occurs with acorresponding excessive loss in the operating efliciency of th-e engine.with the resul-t that it has been found highly desirable to providemeans for rotating the valves thereof during -their reciprocatory motionin the engine. By providing for rotation of the valves while inoperation a reduction or more even distribution of the carbon deposits,warping, pitting, etc., as well as assistance in minimizing carbondeposits upon the valve seat, will result.

In the present invention provision has been made of fone-way brake meansassociated with.

the stem end of the valve and valve spring such that the inherenttwisting motion of the valve spring will positively be imparted to thevalve causing a rotation thereof in one direc-tion but restrained fromreverse mot-ion by the brake. The extent of rotation to be imparted tothe valve ls determined by the amount of relative circumferentialmovement of the spring that occurs between the extended and compressedheights of the spring. The one way brake so employed is mounted upon amember that is restricted solely to axial motion so as to providerotative locking means ink one direct-ion for the brake while at thesame time permitting axial movement of the brake mechanism together withthe valve.

, Referring to the drawings for more specific details of the invention,l0 represents generally an internal combustion engine cylinder blockhaving mounted reciprocally therein a valve gear system designatedgenerally by the numeral l2. The valve gear system comprises a valve I4having a mushroom shaped head I6 adapted to be seated on a valve seatinsert I8 xedly secured in the engine block, andl a stem 20 reciprocablein a guide 22 fitted in the engine block, a valve lifter 24 engaging theend of the valve, and a cam 26 mounted on a camshaft 28 engaging thevalve lifter. The stem end of the valve has mounted thereon a split orother suitable colar 30 received in snug tting relation in grooves 32formed on the stem end of the valve, said collar 30 in turn beingrigidly held upon the valve by a collar member 34 comprising an extendedaxial tremlty with axial slots 44 portion 36 and a radiallyextendedportion Il. The collars 3B and 34 have tapered mating surfaces4|! and 42 respectively. i

The valve guide 22 is provided at its lower exand 48 adapted to bereceived by a sleeve 4B having slots 52 and 82 correspondingto slots 44and 4i so as to permit of axial movement between guide 22 and sleeve 48while at the same time restricting relative rotation therebetween. Thesleeve 48 is provided with an annular inwardly extended ange 54 and acylindrical portion 56 subtended from the flange 64. The ilange 54 ofthe sleeve embraces a reduced portion 58 of the collar 34 and is heldthereon by a snap ring 60 fitted in a groove 62 in the collar 434;whereas, the cylindrical portion oi the sleeve embraces the body properof the collar 34 and provides an annular channel 64 therebetween for thereception of a one-way brake spring member 66. The brake member 68constltutes a circular spring member 68 having a tongue 'IIJ tted in aslot 'I2 in the collar 34. The spring $8 is adapted to engage thesurface 'I4 internally oi' cylindrical portion 58 such that the rotativemovement of collar 314 relative to sleeve 48 is inhibited in onedirection but permitted in the opposite direction, that is, rotation ina direction starting from the torque end of the spring tends to collapsethe spring and thus relieves its elastic force whereas an oppositerotation acts from the free end of the spring against the torque heldend and is thus restrained from movement.

A valve coil spring 16 inserted between the engine block and flange 38of collar 34 serves to retain the valve head upon seat I8 and also toimpart a turning force through-collars 34 and 30 due to its inherenttwisting motion as the spring is alternately compressed and extended.

In a normal operation of the valve system with all parts in assembledposition, upon rotation of the camshaft 28 and'associated cam 2S, liftis imparted to the valve lifter 24 which in turn transmits its movementto the valve I4 through abutment of the valve lifter upon the end of thevalve stem. UponV movement of the valve lifter and valve as a unit, thevalve spring is compressed causing a twisting thereof which twist inturn is imparted to the valve through the collars depending on the brakespring 68 and whether the coil spring 16 is wound with left or righthanded helical coils; that is, if the spring 18 is wound with righthanded helical coils and the brake spring E8 assembled in acounterclockwise position the valve will be rotated during thecompression phase of the spring 16. With the aforementioned arrangementthe valve will continue to be rotated during the course of its beinglifted from its seat in accordance with the extent of twist inherent inthe spring but will cease rotating upon return of the valve toward itsseat, the brake spring 6B acting against the surface 14 of thecylindrical portion of the sleeve 48 to thus resist movement of thespring B8 resulting in inhibiting rotation of collar 34 secured to thevalve. During this phase of operation, it is to be noted that coilspring 16 will slip on the surface of ilange 38 or upon the seat of theengine block depending on the amount of frictional surface resistanceexisting between the respective parts as the spring returns to itsnormal extended position as shown by Figure 1. This completes a cycle ofoperation of the valve through its opening and closing stages ofoperation.

Although the brake 66 is specifically illustrated,

any suitable one-way clutch means would be satisfactory to accomplishthe like function as brake 63 and the showing and description thus madeto the brake is not to be taken as a limitation of structure.

While this invention has been described in connection with certainspeciilc embodiments, the principle involved is susceptible of numerousother applications that will readily occur to persons skilled in theart. The invention, therefore, is limited only as indicated by the scopeof the appended claims.

What I claim is: l. In an internal combustion engine a valve seat, avalve cooperable therewith having an enlarged head and an integral stem,resilient means normally holding the valve on its seat, means for movingthe valve from its seat, said resilient means adapted to rotate thevalve as the valve is reciprocated, and brake directly acting upon meansassociated with the valve stem directly positively resisting rotation ofthe valve in a direction opposite to which it has been rotated by theresilient means.

2. In an internal combustion engine a valve seat, a valve cooperabletherewith having an enlarged head and an integral stem, spring meansnormally holding the valve on its seat, means for moving the valve fromits seat, said spring means acting through one end thereof to turn thevalve during its reciprocation, and a non-rotative brake element meansincluding a part directly acting upon the valve effective to resistrotation of the valve in one direction.

3. I n an internal combustion engine a valve seat, a valve cooperabletherewith having an enlarged head and an integral stem, a coil springfor returning the valve to and retaining it upon its seat, said coilspring due to its inherent twisting motion during retraction andelongation acting to rotate the valve as the valve is reciprocated andbrake means directly associated with the stem of the valve resistingrotation of the valve in one direction.

4. In an internal combustion engine a valve seat, a valve cooperabletherewith having an enlarged head and an integral stem, a coil springfor returning the valve to and retaining it upon its seat, said coilspring due to its inherent twisting motion during retraction andelongation acting to rotate the valve as the valve is reciprocated,means non-rotatively movable relative to but axially shftable with thevalve, and means interposed between said last mentioned means and thevalve stem for inhibiting movement of the valve in one direction.

5. In an internal combustion engine a valve seat, a valve cooperabletherewith having an enlarged head and an integral stem, a coil springfor returning the valve to and retaining itupon its seat, said coilspring due to its inherent twisting motion during retraction andelongation acting to rotate the valve as the valve is reciprocated,means mounted on the stem of the valve limited to movement axially withthe valve, and means ilxedly secured to the stem of the valve interposedbetween the last mentioned means and the valve stem for inhibitingrotation of the valve in one direction.

6. In a poppet valve system for internal combustion engines, a valve, avalve seat, means for actuating the valve, a valve spring for returningthe valve to and retaining the valve upon its seat, said valve springacting to turn the valve during its course of reciprocation, and brakemeans di- 5 rectly operable upon the valve stem for positively resistingrotation oi' the valve in one direction.

7. In a poppet valve system for internal combustion engines a. valve, a,valve seat, means for actuating the valve, a valve spring for returningthe valve to and retaining the valve upon its seat, said valve springacting to turn the valve during its course of reciprocatibn, and axiallymovable non-rotative one way brake means engaging the stem of the valvee'ective to inhibit i0 rotation of the valve in one direction subsequentto the valve being turned by the valve spring.

, HARRY E. VOORHIES.

The following references are of record in the REFERENCES CITED ile ofthis patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,244,287 Buck Oct. 23, 19171,304,929 ArnoldA May 27, 1919 1,520,273 Anthony Dec. 23, 1924 Y1,534,476 Wirrer Apr. 21, 1925i y2,165,239 Douglas, et al July 11, 1939

